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07-12-2021, 08:38 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Roxbury
Posts: 81
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New to me 220RBI
Hello all -
I'm taking delivery of a 2015 Ultra Lite 220RBI tomorrow. I'm not new to RVing but am new to travel trailers. We're downsizing from a 31-foot motorhome. The opposing slides on the RBI seem to be unique to Keystone on a smallish trailer and is what sold us on it.
I wanted something I can tow comfortably with my 1/2-ton Sierra. I've been studying the truck's cargo capacity, tongue weight of the trailer, GVWR of the trailer, etc. and it looks like I'm in good shape with the 220RBI.
I'm sure I'll have tons of questions. I'm a little nervous about towing but I'm sure I'll be fine with tips from here and some practice.
I look forward to meeting everyone.
-Jim
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07-12-2021, 08:46 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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Welcome to the forum 
Congrats on your new adventure. Good set of mirrors, weight distribution/sway and brake controller will make your travels much better.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-12-2021, 08:53 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Roxbury
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Welcome to the forum
Congrats on your new adventure. Good set of mirrors, weight distribution/sway and brake controller will make your travels much better. |
Thanks. I installed the brake controller last week. My brother has a big Grey Wolf trailer and has a weight distribution/sway bar set up. I'll have to ask him about it.
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07-12-2021, 11:17 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turbojimmy
Thanks. I installed the brake controller last week. My brother has a big Grey Wolf trailer and has a weight distribution/sway bar set up. I'll have to ask him about it.
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I have towed an RV with a 1/2 ton without "towing" mirrors and it isn't fun; the towing mirrors make a world (literally) of difference. The wdh/sway hitch is set up for a particular truck/trailer so keep that in mind; you can't just take it from one truck to another without fine tuning it.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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07-12-2021, 11:57 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Good advice! Don't go cheap on the WDH!
At 6400 GVWR, 800+ lbs tongue weight, 26' long you'll want a good'un with a 1/2 ton truck.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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07-12-2021, 03:02 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Roxbury
Posts: 81
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Okay - I ordered up a WDH/sway bar and towing mirrors.
My driveway is really steep coming off the street. The back bumper of our motorhome scrapes so we'll see how it goes with the trailer. It doesn't have much of an overhang and sits pretty high so hopefully it will be okay.
I have a similar situation at the top of my driveway where I need to swing the truck and trailer around. How do the WDH bars do over big changes in elevation between the tow vehicle and trailer. Should I remove them?
The last time I towed anything was a '64 Impala wagon on a U-haul trailer using my Chevy Avalanche a few years ago. The weight distribution was all wrong. It was a 12-hour, white-knuckle ride. Hopefully if set up right this trailer will actually be enjoyable to tow.
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07-12-2021, 03:33 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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How well the wdh/sway system operates, and how as well, depend on what you got. Good ones will let you maneuver without removing the bars, others require them to be removed to be able to turn very sharp. As far as the mirrors, if you got some sort of towing mirrors that attach to the existing mirrors chances are you will not be happy as they love to vibrate so much you can't see anything. Someone may have had success with some brand but I've never seen them. I resolved my mirror problem by buying a new truck with new towing mirrors... 
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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07-12-2021, 03:56 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Roxbury
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough
How well the wdh/sway system operates, and how as well, depend on what you got. Good ones will let you maneuver without removing the bars, others require them to be removed to be able to turn very sharp. As far as the mirrors, if you got some sort of towing mirrors that attach to the existing mirrors chances are you will not be happy as they love to vibrate so much you can't see anything. Someone may have had success with some brand but I've never seen them. I resolved my mirror problem by buying a new truck with new towing mirrors... |
I'll have to check the specs on the WDH/sway system.
The mirrors I got are OEM-like. They replace the existing mirrors on the truck and are extendable. They got good reviews but in talking to my brother he had a bad experience with something similar. I'll see how it goes.
I have a Charger with that 6.4. But the towing capacity is significantly less than your new truck to which your mirrors are attached.
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07-13-2021, 03:38 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Saginaw Mn
Posts: 1,728
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Welcome from northern MN.
__________________
2012 Keystone Retreat 39 FDEN
99 Dodge One Ton Diesel Dually
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